SE Kentucky News

There were 2,775 students enrolled in Letcher County School District schools in the 2022-23 school year, 10% less than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Of all the students welcomed in the 2022-23 school year, 52.9% of them were boys, and 47.1% were girls.

Data also shows that most of the students were white, representing 97% of the district's total enrollment.

Letcher County School District roughly covers nine schools within Letcher County and has a main office in Whitesburg.

Among the nine schools in Letcher County School District, Letcher County Central High School recorded the highest enrollment of 804 students in the 2022-23 school year.

Kentucky is in the midst of a statewide teacher shortage as turnover rates spiked to 10.9% in 2023, up from an 8.9% nine-year average. This issue is more prominent in schools with more low-income and minority students.

Data also shows that between 2019 and 2023, there was an increase of 260% in the number of available teaching posts in Kentucky schools. This often leads to larger class sizes, combining programs, and retaining staff despite potential negative impacts on teacher working conditions.

School Name	Total Enrollment in 2021-22	Total Enrollment in 2022-23	% change
Letcher County Central High School	923	804	-14.8%
West Whitesburg Elementary School	501	444	-12.8%
Letcher Elementary & Middle School	429	390	-10%
Martha Jane Potter Elementary School	368	332	-10.8%
Cowan Elementary School	281	286	1.8%
Fleming Neon Middle School	192	178	-7.9%
Whitesburg Middle School	200	177	-13%
Arlie Boggs Elementary School	139	133	-4.5%
Letcher County Alternative Education Center	19	31	63.2%